Objective

To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a standardized HIV partner notification programme within genitourinary medicine clinics in England.

Design

A prospective survey of HIV partner notification activity over a 12-month period.

Setting

Nineteen genitourinary medicine clinics in England.

Patients and participants

A total of 501 eligible HIV-positive patients (either newly diagnosed or with whom partner notification had not been undertaken previously) seen during the study period.

Main outcome measures

The numbers of partners named by patients, and the number of contacts notified, counselled and HIV-tested.

Results

Information on overall partner notification activity was obtained by reviewing available medical records of 471 patients ; 353 (75%) had discussed partner notification with a health-care worker during the study period and 197 (42%) had undertaken partner notification.

Detailed information on outcomes was obtained for only 70 patients who named 158 contacts as being at risk of acquiring HIV.

Although 71 (45%) contacts were eventually notified, only 28 were subsequently seen in participating clinics.

Almost all contacts (n=27) requested HIV counselling and testing, and five were diagnosed HIV-positive.

Patient referral was the most popular notification method chosen.

Conclusions

This study illustrates some of the practical difficulties that limit HIV partner notification within genitourinary medicine clinics. (...)